I just love how this bracelet came out. I feel like royalty when I’m wearing it. Here’s how it was made… the Reader’s Digest version…
This bracelet was made from scrap sterling left over from several months of jewelry making. The scraps where melted and poured into an ingot mold.
Silver Multicolored Gem Stone Cuff Bracelet
The ingot was then rolled into a sheet using a rolling mill. The sheet of silver was textured with a ball peen hammer. The bracelet was again hammered into a cuff shape using a bracelet mandrel. Bezel settings were soldered to the face of the bracelet and then garnet, amethyst, citrine, ruby, blue topaz, and peridot stones were set. Bezel settings work by compressing the silver around the stone. There is no heat or glue used to hold them in.
Once completed, I didn’t want to part with it… so I kept it for myself. But, I’d be willing to make another if anyone cares to commission one. Due to that hand made nature of this piece, no two will ever be exactly the same. That’s the real beauty in it. And of course the stone colors of your choice could be used. Questions? email: info@silversmyth.com
CONTEST: I have devised a cunning contest in order to give away this sterling silver one-of-a-kind keepsake. Here it is! Re-write my Twitter bio and this hollow formed pendant could be yours. I will select my favorite bio Sunday at 7pm. And post it to my profile. I will contact the entrant via email/tweet to notify that he/she has won and to get a UNITED STATES shipping address. You need not be in USA to win but the item will only be shipped to a US address. Submission Deadline: Sunday, May 17th at 7pm, Central time. If I don’t decide to use any of the bios I will still give away the prize to my favorite attempt and reserve the to edit or adjust and use any entry for my sole purposes.
TO ENTER: Tweet @Silversmyth the bio. Must use hashtag #biocontest. Or click on the heading of this post to enter comments at the bottom.
HELPFUL HINTS: I’m on Twitter to make friends and promote Silversmyth jewelry. Silversmyth designs and manufactures jewelry for businesses, boutiques and charities to resell, for the Silversmyth collection that is shown at art shows and individual custom jobs by request. Humor is always a bonus. It has to fit in the Twitter bio character limits and must be family friendly. My favorite designs are Minimalist and sterling silver is my metal or choice.
PRIZE: This is a hollowformed 1 & 1/8″ tall box pendant to be worn on a necklace. It’s made of Sterling Silver and was one of the first hollow formed pieces that I designed. The rear is hand stamped SILVER SMYTH. It would look very cool on a leather cord or a chain. I’ll supply a leather cord at the length of your choosing 15″-22″.
Much like Nambe’s award winning designs that are found in museum collections, my Sensual Minimalist designs are stripped down to the essential elements. I’m attracted to slow organic curves and lustrous shine. The silver of this ring looks almost molten.
Sensual Minimalistic designs are described as abstract forms that are an experience, not just an object. This ring is not just a thing of beauty but a sensual form, exquisite and when worn is warm to the touch.
The smooth and solid feel of 11 grams of precious sterling silver add to the value of this beautifully carved ring. The interior of the leaf is only partially hollowed out and the widest portion of the ring shank is at the bottom for balance.
Did you ever wonder why jewelers hollow out the backside of rings? For one thing it makes them lighter weight and therefore far less expensive to produce. I love the feel of a solid ring and to run my fingers over it and trace the smooth curves.
This is ring is an Art form to behold and to be worn.
$98.
Cast and Hand Finished Sterling Silver.
Grams vary by ring size.
Size 7 weighs approx. 11 grams. allow two weeks for delivery as each ring is lovingly made to order. Whole, half and quarter sizes.
Three sterling silver rings, two of which are tapered out at the base. The ring tapered in at the base houses a lovely deep purple high dome grade AAA amethyst cabachon.
This is entirely handmade by Silversmyth, Julie Hiltbrunner. Expect to see beautiful variations of this Minimalist concept in the near future…
It’s almost an injustice to show this piece on a plain white background. It will look just stunning laying against someone’s bare skin. Time to get some models to show off the Silversmyth line, don’t you think?
With an 18″ chaind this one is $97. See the color selections available and the chain options in the button below. Thanks!
Silversmyth is happy to create custom designs for you.
The peridots could have been on the outside of the bottom rings instead, and point down. You know that would have been an easier way to set the stones as there would have had more room to work around the settings. But I’m never one to take the easy path. I take the path less travelled by. You know that has made all the difference.
Actually, now that I think of it that would be a stupid idea. Only short people, children and dogs would get a good look at the pretty stones unless the top ring is fused to the bottom… But I’d only do that by request… I kind of like rings that float around freely when I move them.
I tried these on… just to make sure they hang right and it happened again. The inner argument began. It goes like this…
Bad Julie: I want these.
Good Julie: You can’t have these. You need to sell them.
Bad Julie: Mama like! Must have!
Good Julie: Well they do look good on you…
Bad Julie: Hey you are supposed to be the *good* inner voice.
Good Julie: I can’t be perfect all the time.
Bad Julie: So it’s decided, we’re keeping a pair of these.
Good Julie: We’ll probably need a pair in each color.
The intertwined bubbles design was created yesterday to be symbolic of marriage.
I was thinking about design in its relationship to writing prose or poetry. The goal when writing is to say the most you can with the fewest words. Writing should be clean and uncluttered.
My husband and I discuss design often. He tells me that poetry is kind of like design in that it’s best when simple, not over-reaching for depth or meaning. It has to happen and not be forced, or at least it has to appear that way.
Here is a poem my husband wrote just before we married in 1998 which I believe to be an excellent example.
(Excuse me, I must go off topic for a moment… but isn’t that the sweetest gift? I love that poem. I have it stored in my jewelry box. It’s as special to me as the treasures I keep beside it. )
So much of the jewelry design I see when shopping online or in stores is cluttered with stones and beads. But my favorite designs to see and wear are simple and classic. His advice on writing and design put into words what I believe about design. My designs should be simple and elegant. Uncluttered and clean. They should make the person wearing them feel confident in wearing a classic look that will not go out of style.
What I like about this circle design that it is versitile enough to compliment any outfit from jeans to an evening dress.
On leather (as shown) this pendant is a great everyday wear item. If you plan to wear it with evening wear I suggest selecting a sterling silver chain in 16, 18, or 20″. The pendant should fall just below the collar bone. On a small person, that’s a 16″ but on most people an 18 or 20″ is better.
Pendant with brown/black cord or varius lengths of sterling silver chain. Your choice of White (Super Premium) Cubic Zirconia, Simulated Aquamarine, Lab-grown Ruby, Natural Yellow Citrine. (See photo of stone colors reminiscent of Andy Warhol’s lithographs and Paypal button below.) $84.
The mini bee has a domed front and back. The front side has two stripes that were made by flattening wire and then soldering them to a flat disk.
The disk was then hammered into a dome shape. Closed rings were made oval by placing closed chain nose pliers into the center and spreading apart.
The wings, antenae and stinger were soldered to the rear of the front disk. A disk was domed and then soldered to the backside to enclose and give it a finished look.
The body of the bee got a brushed finish and the stripes a full shine to accentuate the stripes. The pendant is just larger than the size of a dime. This bee is sweet as honey!
$88. on 18″ Chain, with Sterling Silver Silversmyth tag and arrives in a black satin gift pouch.
Okay, just a bit more. This ring is composed of 18 individual components. The outer rings were hand formed and hammered flat. Hefty rivets hold 8 tubes in place. It’s every bit as solid and sturdy as it looks. The outside edge of the rings have a reflective hammered texture.
$197 made to order. The ring shown is a Size 10.5.
Silversmyth jewelry handcrafted by Julie Hiltbrunner. Unique and custom designs with classic simplicity in sterling silver. Blog details what has been created in the Silversmyth workshop, Fort Worth events and an occassional story on an an interesting artist... Enjoy!
Silversmyth jewelry handcrafted by Julie Hiltbrunner. Unique and custom designs with classic simplicity in sterling silver. Blog details what has been created in the Silversmyth workshop, Fort Worth events and an occassional story on an an interesting artist... Enjoy!